Separate Sioux Falls zoning ordinance to cover bees

Nov. 16, 2012

Greg Jamison

Written by

Shawna Goldammer

More

ADVERTISEMENT

Regulations for keeping bees in Sioux Falls city limits will not be part of the proposed urban agriculture ordinance.

Instead, Urban Agriculture Task Force members Thursday decided that allowing bees as an accessory use should be part of the Shape Sioux Falls 2035 zoning ordinance, which still is in draft stages and expected to be approved by the City Council early next year.

“Don’t risk all of the good work we’ve already done because of the fear of bees,” said Shawna Goldammer, zoning enforcement manager and task force member.

The bee discussion was part of a public meeting to review the draft ordinance for animals and fowl. State law requires bee hives be registered with an office in Pierre, and though the Sioux Falls law is vague, Goldammer said keeping bees is allowed on property zoned agricultural.

Task force member Wyatt Urlacher urged the group to include regulations on bees in the ordinance, because bees can support urban agriculture as a whole.

Tim Olsen, another member who’s a beekeeper in Minnesota, said bees rarely sting; rather, it’s wasps and hornets that typically sting people — and suggested allowing up to three hives per residential lot. But the panel ultimately decided to add the item into Shape Sioux Falls.

City Councilor Greg Jamison said he’s hesitant about government stepping in and creating laws for some aspects of urban agriculture.

“This is what’s getting me a little weird, all the definitions, the rules, regulations, policies, requirements for how you do and don’t do things. ... I just think, let it flow, and if there’s a problem, deal with that problem.”

Goldammer said without some of the definitions, it’s difficult to enforce issues or complaints neighbors have.

Another public meeting will be held in December. The City Council’s Land Use committee will vote on the ordinance in January, and then it will go to the full City Council.